Open enclosure for explosive charge

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed herein a device for partially enclosing explosives, such as bombs, to allow such explosives to be disposed of relatively safely. An exemplary device is an enclosure which may be considered as essentially an elastic container, for absorbing and directing the explosive forces, and may be substantially cylindrical dna open therethrough and formed from a number of laminations of suitable material, such as fiberglass. A support member may be provided in the enclosure for holding the explosive charge from intimate contact with the enclosure. The support member may be in the form of a net or curtain suspended in the enclosure, foam material within the enclosure, or the like. The structure of the enclosure is such that if the bomb explodes the enclosure delaminates rather then breaking apart in the form of flying fragments.

United States Patent 1191 Tabor [5 OPEN ENCLOSURE FOR EXPLOSIVE CHARGE[76] Inventor: Patrick M. Tabor, -l0 l S. l asen da Drive, South Laguna,Calif. 92677 22 Filed: Aug. 5, 1970 21 Appl. 196.: 61,173

White 150/.5

Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance 7 Assistant Examiner-James R.Garrett Attorney-Lyon & Lyon [5 7] ABSTRACT There is disclosed herein adevice for partially enclosing explosives, such as bombs, to allow suchexplosives to be disposed of relatively safely. An exemplary device isan enclosure which may be considered as essentially an elasticcontainer, for absorbing and directing the explosive forces, and may besubstantially cylindrical dna open therethrough and formed from a numberof laminations of suitable material, such as fiberglass. A supportmember may be provided in the enclosure for holding the explosive chargefrom intimate contact with the enclosure. The support member may be inthe form of a net or curtain suspended in the enclosure, foam materialwithin the enclosure, or the like. The structure of the enclosure issuch that if the bomb explodes the enclosure delaminates rather thenbreaking apart in the form of flying fragments.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented June 19, 1973 mvsmoa PA 76/61? M.771506 OPEN ENCLOSURE FOR EXPLOSIVE CHARGE This invention relates to theart of explosive disposal, and more particularly to an enclosure orcontainer in which an explosive charge may be detonated, or transportedfor detonation, relatively safely.

The disposal of explosives, such as bombs, is extremely hazardous andrequires great care and expertise on the part of the individualsinvolved. Usually, protective garments are worn which are cumbersome andmake handling of the explosive charge somewhat awkward. The explosive isplaced in a type of container which, in the event the charge prematurelydetonates, can create flying fragments from the container or itsappendages resulting in substantial danger to surrounding persons andequipment.

The present invention is directed to a novel enclosure or container forat least partially enclosing an explosive charge so that its forces canbe absorbed and particularly directed, and which allows the charge to bedetonated, or transported for detonation, relatively safely. It may beconsidered as a fail-safe device inasmuch as it does not itself form aprojectile when the explosive is detonated.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide anew enclosure or container for an explosive charge.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a laminatedenclosure or container construction which is open at both ends and whichincludes supporting means therein for supporting an explosive chargewithin the enclosure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel laminatedcontainer and supporting means for supporting an explosive charge withinthe container but out of intimate contact with the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bomb disposalenclosure of laminated construction which tends to delaminate in theevent of detonation of the bomb.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome better understood through a consideration of the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an enclosure or container according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the device.

Briefly, in accordance with the concepts of the pres ent invention, adevice is provided for enclosing an explosive charge which isconstructed so as to absorb and direct the forces upon detonation of thecharge. An exemplary enclosure or container is tubular, such assubstantially cylindrical. A net, curtain, or other suitable support, iscoupled with the container, suchas being hung from the upper rimthereof, and provides a support for the explosive charge within thecontainer but out of contact with the container. The net may be open atthe bottom so that the container and net may be placed over the charge.A draw string, or the like, is coupled with the bottom of the net toclose the net under the charge such that the container can then belifted to transport the charge for detonation. Alternatively, thesupport can take other forms, such as plastic foam, foam rubber,cardboard, or the like within the container to keep the charge out ofcontact with the container. Additionally, means may be provided forraising the net after the same is closed under the charge to raise thecharge to an intermediate point between the ends of the container.

The container is a laminated construction, such as from ballisticfiberglass. Upon detonation of the explosive charge, the wall of thecontainer tends to delaminate rather than the material fragmenting orshattering. Because of this action, the force of the explosive can besuitably absorbed, and restrained to a vertical direction without anysignificant danger to surrounding personnel or equipment. A typicalexample container is approximately 27 inches in diameter and 27 inchesdeep, although different shapes and sizes may be used, such as fromapproximately the size of a wastebasket for use in buildings, up to manyfeet in diameter for use on a trailer. A container of this nature layedup of 24 ounce fiberglass woven roving with nine laminations has beenfound to be suitable, although different materials as well as adifferent number of laminations, such as up to about twenty, can beused. It is desired that the container be of minimum weight forportability reasons, and not have affixed thereto rigid members such asmetal handles which may form dangerous projectiles.

Turning now to the drawing, an exemplary enclosure or container 10 inaccording to the concepts of the present invention is illustrated. Thecontainer is tubular and open therethrough, such as substantially in theform of a cylinder having a wall 11 which has a slight draft. That is,the diameter at the top of the cylinder is slightly larger than thediameter of the bottom of the cylinder to allow the same to be readilyremoved from a mold when the cylinder is manufactured as will bediscussed subsequently. The typical draft is approximately 3.However,-this is merely for convenience of manufacture, and it is notnecessary that the container be in this precise form, and can have othershapes such as frustoconical, precisely cylindrical, and so forth.

A net 12 of nylon or other suitable material, is suspended within thecontainer and extends downwardly to the bottom end thereof. The net maybe suspended from the top rim of the wall 11 by laying the top edge 14of the net over the top edge 15 of the wall and then snapping on a rim13 which preferably may be made of plastic.

The lower end of the net 12 is stitched at 16 to form a casing 17 forreceiving a drawstring 18. The drawstring 18 is used to close the loweropen end 19 (note FIG. 3) afterthe container has been placed over anexplosive charge as indicated diagrammatically at 20. The ends of thedrawstring 18 may merely extend outwardly from the bottom of thecontainer or extend through a slot 20 at the bottom of the wall 11 ofthe container as illustrated in FIG. 2. The ends of the drawstringpreferably extend a number of feet from the container so that they maybe pulled with relative safety when closing the bottom of the net underthe explosive charge or bomb 20.

Additionally, means may be provided for raising the net 12 within thecontainer, after the opening 19 of the net has been closed under thecharge 20, so as to raise the charge upwardly about one-third toone-half from the bottom of the container. The purpose of the net orother suitable support, is to maintain the explosive charge out of theintimate contact with the container, and preferably just about centeredin the container. In any event, the supporting structure should be oflightweight material which will not significantly fragment upondetonation of the charge. The means for raising the net noted above, mayinclude lightweight ropes or strings 22 and 23 which extend throughholes near the upper edge of the wall 1 l and are knotted at 24 and 25as seen in FIG. 3. These ropes extend through respective loops 26 and 27and are secured together at 28 by string, twine, or the like. The loops26 and 27 may be a part of the net 12 or other suitable hooks,preferably formed of a fabric or other relatively non-fragmentablematerial may be used. The end of the rope 22 extends through an openingin the upper end of the wall 11 at the other side of the container sothat the rope may be pulled to raise the net 12. Any suitable means, asfor example a resilient slotted member 30 as shown in FIG. 4 bonded tothe wall 11 by a resin, may be provided through which the rope 22extends so that when the rope is pulled to raise the net the rope willbe retained or locked in position. This can be accomplished with themember 30 wherein the leaves 31 thereof tend to cause the edges 32 ofthe leaves to prevent the rope 22 from pulling back into the container.

A suitable handle or handles may be provided on the exterior wall 11 ofthe container. For example, handles may be formed by several loops 35and 36 of respective ropes 37 and 38. The ropes 37 and 38 are secured tothe periphery of the container by resin used in laying up the container,with the loops 35 and 36 hanging free.

An exemplary container is approximately 27 inches high and twenty-seveninches in diameter. In this case, the bottom of the net 12 may be raisedapproximately 9 inches by pulling the rope 22 so as to support theexplosive charge 20 in the approximate center of the container fordetonation, or for transporting the charge for later detonation.However, the container may be constructed in other sizes, such as fromwaste basket size up to a number of feet in diameter, such as 7 to 8feet for use as a trailer mounted container. The container is formed ofa number of layers or laminations of material, such as ballisticfiberglass, in a manner to be described subsequently.

In the use of a container according to the present invention, thecontainer is placed over the explosive and the drawstrings 18 are pulledso as to close the bottom of the net under the bottom of the charge. Thecharge and net can then be raised by pulling the rope 22 to suspend thecharge substantially in the middle of the container. The charge can thenbe detonated, or the container can be suspended when the charge isdetonated. In many instances it is desirable to transport the container,from, for example a building, to a safer location, such as out of doors,before the charge is detonated.

A suitable tool can be hooked into the loops 35 and 36 for moving oreven dragging the container. The ends of the drawstring 18 can be heldwhile the container is being moved, or they can be tied close to thecontainer to maintain the opening 19 in the bottom of the net 12 closed,or suitable means such as the member 30 may be provided for thedrawstrings to insure that the charge is not released from thecontainer. In pulling the container after the charge 20 has been securedtherein as described above, for example, one person may hook a rope orrod into one of the loops 36 and pull the container and another personfollowing may restrain the container with a rope or rod hooked in anupper loop 35. Alternatively, suitable rods may be threaded throughloops 35 on opposite sides of the container to support the containerintermediate the ends of the rod. In this case, the container can becarried by two people holding the ends of the rods in a stretcher-likefashion.

As an example of the construction of a suitable container, the same maybe formed by laying up a number of sheets of 24 ounce fiberglass wovenroving, such as that distributed by Thalco Company of Santa Ana,California, and made by Uniglass Industries, a Division of UnitedMerchants, Shelby, North Carolina and as more specifically described andillustrated in said first named application (Lyon & Lyon Docket No.132/189). Pieces of the woven roving approximately 12 inches wide arecut on a bias and laid in a flower-petal configuration on a form ormold. After several such pieces have been laid in this manner, acircular band or roving is wrapped around the assembly. The sequence oflaying the elongated pieces and then encircling them with the circularband is performed several times resulting in essentially ninelaminations. A resin is applied in a conventional manner, and anysuitable resin may be used, such as polyester resins identified asKoppers -60-5 or Diamond Schamrock 6631. Undirectional roving can beused but it is more difficult to handle than the woven roving.

Upon detonation of the explosive charge, it has been found that thecontainer at least partially delaminates rather than fragmenting. Thecontainer retains its laminar characteristic inasmuch as the fiberglassis stronger than the bonding agent, thus allowing the laminations toseparate in absorbing the explosive forces. This delamination soaks up alot of force. The structure is thus a resilient structure rather than astrong rigid structure, and is in a sense springy. The container may beconsidered to be a plastic spring formed in a suitable shape which doesnot fragment or shatter significantly under explosive concussion, alongwith a support which functions to maintain the charge out of intimatecontact with the interior of the container.

It is believed that fiberglass rovings called gray goods" areparticularly useful in laying up a container according to the presentinvention. This type of roving has not been laundered and still containsstarch and/or other impurities. Because of this it partially resistsimpregnation of resins and provides a less rigid structure which in turntends to delaminate somewhat easier. Inasmuch as the principal purposeof the present container is to provide a surround for an explosivecharge which can absorb forces upon detonation of the charge withoutsignificant fragmentation, and suitably direct the forces of the chargeaway from surrounding persons, equipment, and so forth, it is believedthat in some cases a structure which more easily delaminates will moresuitably absorb such forces in a safer manner. Additionally, there areexplosives which have a faster burning rate than typical blastinggeletin and the like, such as high speed military explosives. These tendto burn so fast that parts of the explosive may shear through acontainer before the container has a chance to delaminate. Accordingly,it is believed desirable in some cases to partially delaminate thecontainer by first detonating a small charge, such as one stick ofblasting geletin, before the container is used on fast burning charges.

Arrangements other than the net can be used for picking up the bombwithin the container, the principal criteria being that such meansshould not be constructed of a material which will significantlyfragment upon detonation of the charge, at least for many uses of thecontainer.

As other alternatives, one container with a supporting means therein,such as a net, may be nested within another container and arranged witha space between the two containers to accommodate larger explosivecharges. Furthermore, a laminated container as described herein may belined on the inside with a metal, such as titanium or steel, or aceramic material. This arrangement may be useful for high speedexplosives which generate fragments that travel faster than those fromtypical home-made bombs. In this case, the outer laminations prevent theliner from fragmentation.

The present embodiments of this invention are to be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the inventionbeing indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims therefore are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is: 1. A container for facilitating disposal of anexplosive charge by absorbing and directing the force of a detonationwithin said container comprising a tubular body which is fully open atboth ends and throughout its length, said body being formed-of aplurality of laminations of resilient material said body havingsufficient strength to absorb and direct the detonation of an explosivecharge within said body without appreciable fragmentation, and

support means of light weight material coupled with said body forsupportingan explosive charge within said body and completely out ofintimate contact with said wall.

2. A container as in claim 1 including substantially non-fragmentizablehandle means secured to the periphery of said body.

3. A container as in claim 2 wherein said handle means is in the form ofarcuate members.

4. A container as in claim 1 wherein said wall is substantiallycylindrical and is formed of a plurality of layers of glass fibers andresin.

5. A container as in claim 1 wherein said support means is a netextending within said wall and coupled with the upper end of said body.

6. A container as in claim 5 wherein said net has a closable end nearthe bottom end of said body for allowing the container to be positionedover an explosive charge and said end of said net to be closed undersaid charge.

7. A container as in claim 5 wherein said support means includes meansfor raising said net and an explosive charge held thereby upwardlywithin said body.

3. A container for facilitating disposal of explosive charge byabsorbing and directing the force of a detonation within said containercomprising a body for enclosing an explosive charge, said body beingtubular and fully open throughout its length, and being molded of aplurality of laminations of resilient material and a bonding agent saidbody having sufficient strength to absorb and direct the detonation ofan explosive charge within said body, and

support means of light weight material within said body and coupledthereto, the lower extremity of said support means extending downwardlywithin 1 said body for receiving and supporting an explosive charge formaintaining the charge completely out of intimate contact with saidbody.

9. A container as in claim 8 wherein said support means is ofsubstantially nonfragmenting material, and

said resilient material is glass fibers and said bonding agent is resin.10. A container as in claim 9 wherein said support means has an open endnear the bottom of said body for allowing the container to be positionedover an explosive charge and which is closable under said charge, andsaid support means includes means for closing said open end thereof. 11.A container for facilitating disposal of an explosive charge byabsorbing and directing the force of a detonation within said containercomprising a hollow body for enclosing an explosive charge, said bodybeing substantially cylindrical and fully open throughout its length andbeing molded of a plurality of laminations of ballistic resistingmaterial and a bonding agent, and

support means of light weight material coupled to and extending withinsaid body for supporting an explosive charge therein, said support meansbeing in the form of a net with a lower end thereof extending downwardlywithin said body and having a closable opening at said lower end whichmay be placed over said charge and closed for supporting said chargewithin said body and for maintaining said charge completely out ofintimate contact with said body.

2. A container as in claim 1 including substantially non-fragmentizablehandle means secured to the periphery of said body.
 3. A container as inclaim 2 wherein said handle means is in the form of arcuate members. 4.A container as in claim 1 wherein said wall is substantially cylindricaland is formed of a plurality of layers of glass fibers and resin.
 5. Acontainer as in claim 1 wherein said support means is a net extendingwithin said wall and coupled with the upper end of said body.
 6. Acontainer as in claim 5 wherein said net has a closable end near thebottom end of said body for allowing the container to be positioned overan explosive charge and said end of said net to be closed under saidcharge.
 7. A container as in claim 5 wherein said support means includesmeans for raising said net and an explosive charge held thereby upwardlywithin said body.
 8. A container for facilitating disposal of explosivecharge by absorbing and directing the force of a detonation within saidcontainer comprising a body for enclosing an explosive charge, said bodybeing tubular and fully open throughout its length, and being molded ofa plurality of laminations of resilient material and a bonding agentsaid body having sufficient strength to absorb and direct the detonationof an explosive charge within said body, and support means of lightweight material within said body and coupled thereto, the lowerextremity of said support means extending downwardly within said bodyfor receiving and supporting an explosive charge for maintaining thecharge completely out of intimate contact with said body.
 9. A containeras in claim 8 wherein said support means is of substantiallynon-fragmenting material, and said resilient material is glass fibersand said bonding agent is resin.
 10. A container as in claim 9 whereinsaid support means has an open end near the bottom of said body forallowing the container to be positioned over an explosive charge andwhich is closable under said charge, and said support means includesmeans for closing said open end thereof.
 11. A container forfacilitating disposal of an explosive charge by absorbing and directingthe force of a detonation within said container comprising a hollow bodyfor enclosing an explosive charge, said body being substantiallycylindrical and fully open throughout its length and being molded of aplurality of laminations of ballistic resisting material and a bondingagent, and support means of light weight material coupled to andextending within said body for supporting an explosive charge therein,said support means being in the form of a net with a lower end thereofextending downwardly within said body and having a closable opening atsaid lower end which may be placed over said charge and closed forsupporting said charge within said body and for maintaining said chargecompletely out of intimate contact with said body.